Type-writing machine.



No. 777,071. PATENTED DEC. 1s, 1904. A. '1'. BROWN. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION ILBD MAR. 6. 1901.

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PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904. A. T. BROWN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIUN FILLD MAR.6.1901.

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A. I. BROWN. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. 1901.

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1./ Im ZM INVEN'VIIRI HIE TTURNEY No. '777.071y PATBNTED DEC. 13, 1904. A. T. BROWN.

TYPE VVRITNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.6,1901.

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if' STATES Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,071, dated December 13, 1904..

Application filed March 6, 1901.

To all 1,012,077?, t may cm1/cern:

Be it known that l', ALEXANDER T. BROWN, a citizen oi the United States, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county oil Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-VVriting Machines, oi which the following is aspeciiication.

This invention relates to the type-bar actions ot' writinganachines.

The main objects of the invention are to produce a `Front-strike writing-machine in which the type-bars may be closely assembled and freely pivoted without liability of lateral vibration, to connect the type-bars by simple, readily-assembled, and easily-operated mech anism to the keys, to secure uniformity ot' movement throughout the key-leverand typebar system, and to improve the connections between the keys and the carriage-'feeding mechanism.

To these and other ends my invention consists in certain combinations ot' devices, leatures of construction, and arrangements ot' parts, all as will be fully hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the concluding claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinally and about centrally ot' a frontstrike writing-machine constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the parts in normal p0- Fig. 2 is afront sectional view taken at about the line X X of Fig. 1. 3 is a front sectional view taken at about the line Y Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a skeleton view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the parts in printing position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a type-bar hub and its bearings.

- In the several views similar parts are designated by the same numerals of reference, and certain portions of the machine are omitted for the sake ot clearness.

1 designates a rectangular base upon which is fixed a horizontal cover or plate 2, which aifords a support both for a rear framework or casing 3 and also for plates which support the type-bars and certain of the operating-levers-therefor. A platen, which is designated Serial No. 50,101. (No model.)

as 4, is mounted to travel longitudinally across the rear upper portion ot the machine, being mounted, as usual, upon a carriage 5, which is supported upon bearingballs (i, running in opposite V-grooves formed in bars 7, placed upon `the casing 3. Rearwardly-striking type-bars 8 are mounted upon fixed bi't'urcated or loop hangers 9 by means oi bearing-balls 10, the balls in each set traveling in a V-groove 11, formed interiorly in the enlarged hub of the type-bar, and in an opposite annular V-groove 12, formed by the union o1" opposite beveled disks orcones 13 and 13X, which are secured together by a central rivet 14, one end whereof is riveted at 14 to one arm ot' the hangers and the other end of which is riveted at 14 upon or against the boss 13 ot' the cone 13X, said boss projecting into a hole 111", lformed in the other arm oi' the hanger, which hole it tightly lits, whereby the disks are iirmly supported.

It will be seen that my construction embodies an antifriction-bearing for the typebars in which the bar is pivoted on antitrictien-balls to swing in the median plane ot the annular ball-race provided by the said cones. It will also be seen that the oppositely-beveled cones supported in the bifurcated hanger form an exteriorly grooved hub which is arranged within the eye o'l.E the type-bar and that the cones or plates are separate from the body ot' both the type-bar and the hanger; also, that the pin or rivet supports the hub upon the hanger and that the plates or cones are arranged between the arms of the bifurcated hanger and are independent thereof. The arms ot the hanger are secured together by a tie-rod or rivet 9. Thus the type-bar is enabled to swing freely and at the same time is rigidly guided against lateral vibration and enabled to deliver its impression al-` ways at the exact printing-center. The haugers 9 are secured by screws 15 upon the trout face of a fixed vertical plate or segment 1G, whose upper edge is curved concentrically with the printing-center, said hangers and type-bars being radially arranged in a curved row about the same center.` The compact form olE the type-bar bearing enables a large number ot' bars to be assembled below the TOO horizontal plane of the printing-center, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2. Any type-bar and hanger may be readily detached from the machinewhen desired. The type-bars are connected, by means of forwardly-extending detachable links 17, to the upwardly-directed parallel arms 18 of a system of bell-cranks which are provided with trunnions 19 and have forwardly-extending arms 20, which are connectedv by parallel vertical detachable links 21 to key-bearing levers 22 of the second order. The bell-cranks, which are of uniform size, are mounted upon parallel hangers 23, which are secured at different heights by screws 24 upon the rear vertical wall of a fixed crescent-shaped plate 25 and at the lower edge thereof. Each hanger 23 isforked at its lower end to receive the hub of its bell-crank and is provided with downwardly and rearwardlyT inclined bearingslots 26 for receiving the trunnions or pivots 19, said slots being open at their forward ends, so that the bell-cranks may he readily detached. Each bell-crank is provided above its pivot with a rearwardly-extending draw-spring 27, whose forward end hooks into a notch 28 in the bell-crank and whose rear end hooks into one of a series of bent ears 29, formed upon the lower edge of a segmental plate 30, which is secured by screws 31 to the front vertical face of the plate 16 beneath the type-bar hangers 9. Said spring holds the bell-crank in its socket and also returns the bellcrank to normal position after actuation. The plate 25 is provided at each side with downwardly-directed lateral arms 32,which are secured upon the front ends of horizontal rods 33, projecting forwardly from the plate 16, said rods being tapped into said plate 16 at their rear ends and threaded at their forward ends to receive clamping-nuts 34. Upon the upper edge of the plate 25 is supported .a segmental typerest 35. The links 21, whose lower ends terminate in the same horizontal plane, are of graduated lengths to compensate for the gradually-increasing elevations at which the bell-cranks are mounted, the bell-crank hangers being arranged at gradually-increasing heights corresponding with the curve of the type-bar system.

The keys 36, carried by the forward ends of the levers 22, are ar-ranged in fourbanks, and the levers are fulcrumed upon aseries of four parallel transverse horizontal rods 37 which are arranged at or near the base of the machine underneath the system of type-bars and forward of a vertical plane passed in front of the platen, and said rods are seated in transverse slots 37, formed in the under side of the plate 2, and are clamped, by means of screws 38 and plates 39, in seats formed in bars 40, the latter being arranged one at each side of the lever system and cast upon the Linder side of the plate 2. The rear ends of the levers work in slots 41, which are cutin a thickened portion 42 of the plate 2. The levers whose keys are in the rear bank are pivoted upon the forward rod 37 and hence these levers are the shortest. The levers whose keys are in the next forward bank are pivoted upon the next rear rod 37. The levers whose keys are in the next forward bank are pivoted upon the next rear rod 37 and the levers whose keys are in the front bank are pivoted upon the rearmost rod 37, these being the longest levers in the system. Thus it will be seen that the length of the levers is graduated according to the banks of keys. The links 21 are arranged in a line transversely of the key-levers, said line being preferably located about half-way between the keys and the fulcrum-rods and so that the movements of the levers at the points of attachment 43 of the links is uniform throughout the system. The usual front comb 44 is provided for separating and guiding the key-levers, and there is the usual cushion 45, against which said key-levers are held up by the springs 27. The movements of the typebars are uniform, as weil as the movements of the links 17, the bell-cranks, the links 21, and the keys 36. rlhe links 17 and 21 are provided at their ends with well -known fastenings, which permit easy attachment and detachment.

Arranged transversely beneath the key-levers and directly below the line of connections 43, where the movements of the key-levers is uniform, is a universal bar 46, which is carried by the forward ends of a pair of rocker-arms 47, extending horizontally from a rock-shaft 48, mounted at the rear of the machine. The universal-bar frame is connected by a link 49 to a dog-rocker 50, the lower end of the link being attached to a transverse tie-rod 51, which extends between the two side bars 47 of the universal-bar frame, and the upper end of said link is pivoted to an arm 52 of the dog-rocker, which is provided with a returning-spring 53. Said dogrocker carries the ordinary feeding-dog 54 and detent-dog 55, which work in the usualv rack 56 upon the carriage 5.

In operation upon the depression of any key 36 the lever 22 is swung downwardly upon its fulcrum-rod 37, and by means o f link 21 the bell-crank is vibrated, thus pulling the link 17 forwardly and swinging the type-bar up to print. During this operation the universal bar 46 is carried down, and by means of the link 49 the dog-rocker is vibrated. Upon the release of the key from pressure the parts are returned to normal position by the springs 27 and 53, and the carriage feeds the letter-space in the usual manner.

The type-bars are shown as provided with two types, the inner one of which represents the lower-case letter and the outer one the upper-case. In the machine containing this type-bar mechanism means are provided for IOO shifting the platen 4 upwardly lto receive the impressions of the upper-case type. The said carriage mechanism will, however', be made -the subject-matter of anotherapplication; but

any suitable construction may be provided for enabling both the upper and lower case types to print in the same line. Ot' course, if desired, there may only be one type on each bar and the machine be unprovided with any shifting mechanism.

Many other variations may be made within the scope of my invention, and parts thereof may be used without others.

IV hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a front-strike wI-iting-machine, the combination with a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars, of a series of parallel bellcranks of uniform size pivoted at different heights corresponding to the heights of their respective type-bars,connections between said bell-cranks and said type-bars, a system of parallel key-levers, and a system of parallel links of varying' sizes arranged in line transversely of the key-levers and connecting thc bell-cranks to the key-levers at points substantially midway between the linger-keys and fulcrums of said key-levers, whereby a uniform leverage and a uniform dip of th keys are provided.

2. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen, of a series ot' rearwardly-striking type-bars, a series of bellcranks of uniform size connected thereto, and a series of key-levers connected to said bellcranks, the connections from the bell-cranks to the key-levers being at points substantially midway between the linger-keys and fulcrums of said key-levers, whereby a uniform leverage and a uniform dip of the keys are provided.

In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen, of a series of rearwardly-striking pivoted type-bars, plate 25, hangers 23 thereon, diagonal trunnion-slots 26 in said hangers, and bell-cranks 18 having trunnions 19 and connected by links 17 to the type-bars and by links 21 to the key-levers.

4:. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a series of rearwardl y-striking type-bars, of a plate or segment 1G upon which said type-bars are mounted, plate 25 supported upon rods 33 which extend forwardly from plate 16, bell-cranks 18 mounted upon plate 25, and key-levers 22 arranged below the bell-cranks and connected thereto.

5. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen, of a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars, a series of bellcranks connected thereto and pivoted in separate parallel hangers arranged side by side at different heights, and key-levers connected to the bell-cranks by parallel links of graduated lengths, the connection of the links to the keylevers being at points substantially midway between the iinger-keys and fulcrums of said key-levers, whereby a uniform leverage anda uniform dip of the keys are provided.

6. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen, of a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars, a series of bellcranks connected to the type-bars and detachably pivoted in open bearings, a series of key levers connected to the bell-cranks, and returning-springs attached to the bell-cranks in such a manner as to hold them in their bearings.

7. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars, of a series of bell-cranks connected to the type-bars and detaehably pivoted in rearw ardly and downwardly extending open sockets, draw-springs connected to said bellcranks above their pivots, and key-levers for operating said bell-cranks. n

8. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen, of a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars, bell-cranks 18 detachably mounted in diagonal sockets 26 and connected by links 17 to the type-bars, drawsprings 27 attached to said bell-cranks and eX- tending rearwardly therefrom, fixed plate 3() having fingers 29 to which said springs are attached, and key-levers for operating said bellcranks.

9. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars, of a series of banks of keys, a series of short levers having' keys in the rear bank, a series of longer key-levers fulcrumed in rear of the short levers and having keys in a forward bank, the fulcrums for the several series of key-levers being arranged directly beneath the series of rearwardly -striking type-bars, and a series of bell-cranks connected to the type-bars and also connected to all of said key-levers at points substantially inidway between the ends of the latter.

10. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen, of a system of rearwardly-striking type-bars, a series of banks of keys, a series of short levers whose keys are in the rear bank, a series of longer levers pivoted in rear of said short levers and having keys in a forward bank, a series of still longer levers pivoted in rear of the seeond-mentioned levers and having keys in bank forward of the second bank, the pivots for the said series of key-levers being arranged directly beneath the series of rearwardly-striking type-bars, and a series of bell-cranks connected to said levers substantially midway be tween their ends and also connected to said type-bars.

11. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination of a series of banks of keys, levers upon which said keys are carried, the levers for the rear bank of keys being shortest, those for the next-forward bank of keys being longer and pivoted in rear of thelirst levers, the levers for the next forward bank of keys being still IOO longer and pivoted in rear of the second levers, a series of connectionsarranged in line transversely of the system of levers and attached to said levers at points where the motion of said levers is substantially uniform, a series of bell-cranks operated by said links, and a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars operated by said bell-cranks.

12. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen, of a series of banks of keys, a series of transverse fulcrum-rods, one associated with each bank, a system of levers bearing said keys and fulcrumed upon said transverse rods, the levers bearing the keys in the rear bank being fulcrumed upon the foremost rod, the levers bearing the keys in the next forward bank being fulcrumed upon the next rear rod, and the levers bearing the keys in the next forward bank being' fulcrumed upon the next rear rod, a series of bell-cranks connected to said levers midway of their lengths, and a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars operated by said bell-cranks.

13. In a type-writing machine. the combination with asystem of type-bars and a system of levers connected thereto, of a transverse plate, a series of rods 37 arranged in slots or notches formed in said plate, said levers being' fulcrumed upon said rods, and a series of slots 41 formed in said plate for guiding said keylevers.

14. Inatype-writing machine, the combination with a system of type-bars, of a transverse fulcrum-plate 42, a series of fulcrum-rods 37, bars 40 having seats for said fulcruni-rods, plates 39 and screws 38 for holding said fulcrum-rods in position, and slots 41 formed in the bar 42 for guiding the key-levers.

15. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen and a letter-feeding mechanism, of a system of rearwardly-striking type-bars, a system of bell-cranks connected thereto, a system of levers of the second order pivoted upon aseries of fulcrum-bars, connections extending from said bell-cranks to said key-levers at points thereon where the motion of the system of levers is substantially uniform, and a universal bar extending transversely of the system of key-levers at said points, said universal bar being connected to said letter-feeding mechanism.

16. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination of a series of banks of keys, levers upon which said keys are carried, the levers for the rear bank of keys beingshortest, those for the next forward bank of keys being longer and pivoted in rear of the first levers, the levers for the next forward bank of keys being still longer and pivoted in rear of the second levers, a series of connections arranged inline transversely and attached to said levers at points where the motion of the latter is substantially uniform, a series of bell-cranks operated by said links, a series of rearwardlystriking type bars operated by said bellcranks, and a universal bar operated by said levers and arranged directly beneath said connections.

17. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen, of a series of banks of keys, a series of transverse fulcrum-rods arranged forwardly of said platen and at the base of the machine, one for each bank, a system of levers bearing said keys and fulcrumed upon said transverse rods, the levers bearing the keys in the rear bank being fulcrumed upon the foremost rod, the levers bearingthe keys in the next forward bank being fulcrumed upon the next rear rod, and the levers bearing the keys in the next forward bank being fulcrumed upon the next rear rod, a series of bell-cranks connected to said key-levers, a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars operated by said bell-cranks, and a universal bar arranged midway the lengths of and operated by said key-levers.

18. ln a type-writing machine,the combination with a type-bar having an interiorlygrooved eye of a series of bearing-balls arranged in said eye, a pair of opposite beveled disks or cones arranged within said eye so as to form a bearing for said balls, a forked hanger between which said disks are confined, a rivet securing said disks to one arm of said hanger, a boss formed upon one of said disks or cones and projecting into a hole formed in the other arm of said hanger, and atie 9u connecting the arms of said hanger.

19. The combination of a type-bar provided at its inner end with a ball-chamber,balls within said chamber, bearing-plates having peripheral surfaces to engage said balls, a type-bar hanger having arms between which said bearing-plates and said type-bar are mounted and .a pin extending through the arms of said hanger and through said bearing-plates.

20. The combination with a one-piece typebar hanger having apair of integral arms, of a type-bar journaled between said arms and having a ball-bearing chamber, bearing-plates separable from but interposed between said hanger-arms and antifriction-balls located in said ball-chamber between said bearing-plates.

Signed at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, this 28th day of February, A. D. 1901.

ALEXANDER T. BROVN. lN/'itnessesz J. L. THoLENs, R. M. SMITH.

IOS 

